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Wilko · 11-29-2003, 02:47 AM

Firstly, Apologies about the quality of the pictures. It was a digital camera i got for free, so bear with me.
[img]http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/wilkins-pa.jpg[/img]
This is my Grandfather from my Father's side, Private Lindsay Wilkins (later Warrant Officer 1st Class Wilkins, MBE). He joined the 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) at the age of 16 in 1941, after being rejected from the Navy, for failure to provide a Birth Certificate (apparently the Army was less discerning about age than the Navy). He later went on to serve in the Pacific, Being recalled several times for medical reasons, being a few cases of Malaria, and on one occasion, a cut above his eye, inflicted by a Japanese Bayonet. He Served in the Australian Army from 1941-46, then rejoined again in 1951, until his retirement in 1977. Apparently, during the Korean War, he wanted to join up as a Paratrooper, however, this was derailed by my Grandmother's arguements ("Don't be so bloody stupid, Lindsay" :P) He was a great knock-about bloke, who was always happy to share a beer and a laugh with anyone, and for these reasons, he is the closest person to an idol that i've ever had in my life. Below are his medals:
[img]http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/wilkins-medals.jpg[/img]
These medals are generally service medals. The Third from the left is the 'Pacific Star', given for service in the Pacific during the war. The first one is a 'Member of the British Empire', or 'MBE' Medal, if you will. It was awarded to him for long service and good conduct in the armed service. He got it from the then Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser, at a dinner at Parliament House in Canberra, if my memory serves. The above medals are also the ones i myself wear on ANZAC day each year, when we go to the Shrine of Rememberance.
[img]http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/wilkins-ring.jpg[/img]
The last item i have is this ring, which didn't belong to my Grandfather, But my Great-Uncle on my mother's side, John William McCullagh, who served in the Royal Navy during the war. Apparently, my Great Grandmother gave it to him on his entry to the Navy. During the War, the ship he was posted on (Ironically the mascot of my favourite football team, the "H.M.S. Magpie" :P) was torpedoed by German U-Boats 6 or so Times, and on the final time, the boat was sunk, and my Great-Uncle was left floating in the North Sea for 8 or so hours before his rescue. According to my Grandmother, the ring was on his finger the whole time. It's quite humbling to posess something with that much history attached to it.

I hope i haven't bored you too much, but hell, this thread wanted my Family's military history, and there it is.

NOTE: This is a better picture of the MBE that i found while browsing Google: [img]http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/cmdp/images/mbe-l.gif[/img]

	(#18)
Wilko is Offline Senior Member Posts: 1,903 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia	11-29-2003, 02:47 AM Firstly, Apologies about the quality of the pictures. It was a digital camera i got for free, so bear with me. [img]http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/wilkins-pa.jpg[/img] This is my Grandfather from my Father's side, Private Lindsay Wilkins (later Warrant Officer 1st Class Wilkins, MBE). He joined the 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) at the age of 16 in 1941, after being rejected from the Navy, for failure to provide a Birth Certificate (apparently the Army was less discerning about age than the Navy). He later went on to serve in the Pacific, Being recalled several times for medical reasons, being a few cases of Malaria, and on one occasion, a cut above his eye, inflicted by a Japanese Bayonet. He Served in the Australian Army from 1941-46, then rejoined again in 1951, until his retirement in 1977. Apparently, during the Korean War, he wanted to join up as a Paratrooper, however, this was derailed by my Grandmother's arguements ("Don't be so bloody stupid, Lindsay" :P) He was a great knock-about bloke, who was always happy to share a beer and a laugh with anyone, and for these reasons, he is the closest person to an idol that i've ever had in my life. Below are his medals: [img]http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/wilkins-medals.jpg[/img] These medals are generally service medals. The Third from the left is the 'Pacific Star', given for service in the Pacific during the war. The first one is a 'Member of the British Empire', or 'MBE' Medal, if you will. It was awarded to him for long service and good conduct in the armed service. He got it from the then Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser, at a dinner at Parliament House in Canberra, if my memory serves. The above medals are also the ones i myself wear on ANZAC day each year, when we go to the Shrine of Rememberance. [img]http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/wilkins-ring.jpg[/img] The last item i have is this ring, which didn't belong to my Grandfather, But my Great-Uncle on my mother's side, John William McCullagh, who served in the Royal Navy during the war. Apparently, my Great Grandmother gave it to him on his entry to the Navy. During the War, the ship he was posted on (Ironically the mascot of my favourite football team, the "H.M.S. Magpie" :P) was torpedoed by German U-Boats 6 or so Times, and on the final time, the boat was sunk, and my Great-Uncle was left floating in the North Sea for 8 or so hours before his rescue. According to my Grandmother, the ring was on his finger the whole time. It's quite humbling to posess something with that much history attached to it. I hope i haven't bored you too much, but hell, this thread wanted my Family's military history, and there it is. NOTE: This is a better picture of the MBE that i found while browsing Google: [img]http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/cmdp/images/mbe-l.gif[/img]